Cold and Flu - What’s the Difference?

Both colds and the flu are caused by respiratory viruses. They have many similar symptoms and can be easily confused and misdiagnosed as each other. It's important to recognise the difference between cold and flu symptoms, however, to ensure the correct treatment is used. While a cold usually disperses within several days, flu can sometimes evolve into more serious complications that can be lethal to certain people.

It's important to recognise the difference between flu symptoms and cold symptoms because anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu, which are effective in treating the flu, have to be taken during the very early stages of flu symptoms appearing. A major difference is the speed and aggression of the onset of the virus. While during either sickness you will experience similar symptoms like a stuffy nose, headache and cough, it's only flu that causes an aggressively high fever.

Often in the first few days of flu, high fevers are coupled with the chills and severe body aches and pains that are more prominent in the joints, the back and legs. The sudden onset of the aches and pains, fever and often fatigue will leave most people suffering from flu bed-ridden in the early stages.

Finally, to differentiate between a cold and flu, a major difference is the length the virus stays in your body. A cold, for example, shouldn't last more than a week, with the first few days being the most severe for symptoms. Flu can last up to three weeks, with the first week being the most severe.

Cold

Flu

Differences

Seldom experience fever, if so mild

Rarely causes headache

Sometimes causes slight aches and pains

Mild to no fatigue

Extreme exhaustion is unusual

Stuffy nose is common

Frequent sneezing

Sore throat is common

Moderate chest discomfort

At most, can turn into sinusitis, congestion or earache

Always coupled with a high fever

Prominent headache

Severe full body and joint aches and pains

Fatigue and tiredness can last up to three weeks

Prominent feelings of exhaustion in the first few days

Seldom experience a stuffy nose

Seldom suffer with sneezing

Sore throat not as common with flu

Severe chest discomfort

Can evolve into bronchitis or pneumonia which are dangerous illnesses

It's important to remember that both the cold and the flu are highly contagious, especially during the early stages. Both enter your body through the mucous membranes of your mouth, nose and ears, and are generally transmitted through the air, making them highly contagious.

It is important to realise that it's often not the symptoms that are different, but rather the degree of the severity of the symptoms and the amount of time they are prominent. When in doubt, the most sensible thing to do is visit a doctor and get a professional diagnosis.

Preventing colds or flu

Another difference is in the prevention of colds and flu. It is actually impossible to prevent the onset of a common cold. It is an airborne virus that’s very contagious, and there is no vaccination or medication that can prevent it from infecting you, unless you avoid coming in contact with the virus altogether. Flu, on the other hand, can be prevented with a yearly flu vaccination, or with anti-viral medications.